Cairo ICT Marks 30 Years With “AI in Action” as Artificial Intelligence Moves From Vision to Deployment
Held at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in New Cairo under the theme “AI in Action,” this year’s edition will focus on practical applications of artificial intelligence across telecommunications, financial services, healthcare, education, government, energy, agriculture, media and digital entertainment.
The event is held under the patronage of Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, alongside the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Health and Population, Civil Aviation, and Education.
Trade Fairs International is organizing Cairo ICT 2026 in partnership with United Media Services, with participation from technology companies, government institutions, investors and entrepreneurs as well as official delegations from markets including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, China, Sudan, Togo and Rwanda.
A Ministerial Summit Puts AI Infrastructure on the National Agenda
The 30th edition will open with a ministerial summit focused on moving artificial intelligence from individual success stories toward wider national-scale impact.
The session is scheduled to bring together Minister of Communications and Information Technology Raafat Hendy, Minister of Investment Mohamed Farid, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat, Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk and Minister of Justice Mahmoud Helmy El-Sherif.
Their participation reflects one of the central ideas behind this year’s Cairo ICT: AI is increasingly becoming an infrastructure and economic-development issue rather than a technology-sector conversation alone.
Deploying AI at scale requires computing capacity, data centers, secure digital infrastructure, skilled talent and governance, alongside the ability to integrate the technology into existing institutions and workflows.
Osama Kamal: The Focus Is on AI That Can Be Put to Work
“The 30th edition represents an important milestone in Cairo ICT’s journey, where we are focusing on turning artificial intelligence into practical applications that respond to the needs of institutions and communities,” said Osama Kamal, Chairman of Trade Fairs International.
He said the “AI in Action” theme is intended to highlight deployable technologies and their role in improving services and productivity while opening new opportunities for growth.
“Cairo ICT brings together decision-makers, technology developers, investors and entrepreneurs to connect innovation with market needs,” Kamal added.
The objective, he said, is to create partnerships and give startups and emerging talent greater access to opportunities while focusing on technologies capable of generating measurable economic and social value.
Sovereign AI Infrastructure Brings Arab and African Markets Together
Infrastructure will form a significant part of the 2026 agenda.
Cairo ICT will host a high-level roundtable on “Sovereign AI Infrastructure” on November 7 in cooperation with the Arab Information and Communication Technologies Organization, AICTO, and Smart Africa.
The discussions will examine Arab-African cooperation around computing capacity, data centers and data governance as countries consider how much of the infrastructure required for AI should be developed and controlled locally.
A wider series of closed sessions and high-level roundtables will address AI infrastructure, child protection from digital threats, the role of Arab and African women in AI, applications in energy and mining, the future of banking data centers, infrastructure security and intelligent transportation.
Representatives from government ministries, the Central Bank of Egypt, regional and international organizations, technology companies and academic institutions are expected to participate.
Three Sessions Examine What AI Means for Journalism and Media
Cairo ICT 2026 is also dedicating three sessions to artificial intelligence in journalism and media.
The discussions will examine both the opportunities and challenges created as generative AI enters newsrooms, content production and distribution.
Media organizations from across the Arab world and senior representatives from public media institutions are expected to participate.
The sessions come as news organizations increasingly confront questions extending beyond content generation to verification, copyright, newsroom productivity, synthetic media and the changing role of journalists in AI-assisted workflows.
Five Technology Platforms Build Around the Main Exhibition
Cairo ICT has gradually developed into an umbrella for several specialized technology events rather than operating solely as a conventional technology exhibition.
The third edition of AIDC² will focus on artificial intelligence, data centers and cloud computing, while the 13th edition of PAFIX, held under the patronage of the Central Bank of Egypt, will address digital payments and financial inclusion.
Connecta and Connecta Play will cover smart devices, entertainment technology and gaming, including a new collaboration with the Information Technology Institute, led by Dr. Heba Saleh.
The Innovation Arena will provide startups and entrepreneurs with space to showcase products, meet investors and connect with potential business partners.
AI Innovation Factory Turns the Theme Into a Hands-On Experiment
One of the initiatives designed to translate “AI in Action” into practical development will be the AI Innovation Factory, held under Connecta from November 8 to 10 in cooperation with Mercatura Forum.
The program will include an AI hackathon, technology challenges, robotics activities, workshops and mentoring intended to help participants turn concepts into prototypes that can be demonstrated and developed further.
Connecta will also include a Cyber Zone developed in cooperation with CyShield, adding a cybersecurity component to the innovation program.
New Awards Target AI Companies, Creators and Filmmakers
The 30th edition will introduce the first MEA AI Awards, recognizing companies and individuals contributing to the development and deployment of artificial intelligence across the Middle East and Africa.
Winners will be selected through specialized judging and evaluation committees.
Cairo ICT will also launch “Khayal,” an Arab initiative developed through a strategic partnership with Aroma to recognize short films created using artificial intelligence.
The addition of creative content to an event historically centered on enterprise and communications technology illustrates how rapidly AI is expanding beyond traditional IT departments into media and creative industries.
From “A Star Is Born” to “AI in Action”
The anniversary also provides Cairo ICT with an opportunity to look back at three decades of technological change in Egypt.
The event began in 1996 under the theme “A Star Is Born,” at a time when its role centered largely on bringing global technology companies and emerging technologies closer to the Egyptian market.
Over the following decades, Cairo ICT became a stage for several milestones associated with Egypt’s digital development, including the free internet initiative in 2002, the “PC for Every Home” initiative in 2003, the arrival of 3G services, and later developments including Egypt’s first locally manufactured mobile phone, electronic visa services and technology zones.
The event has also received high-level government attention throughout its history. Former President Hosni Mubarak opened the 2002 edition, while President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attended and opened seven consecutive editions between 2015 and 2021. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly opened the event in 2023 and 2024 on behalf of the President and also opened the 2025 edition.
Thirty Years Later, the Technology Question Has Changed
When Cairo ICT began in 1996, much of the technology conversation revolved around bringing connectivity, computers and telecommunications infrastructure into businesses and homes.
Three decades later, the question is increasingly about what can be built on top of that infrastructure.
AI requires cloud platforms and data centers. Data centers require connectivity and energy. Digital financial services depend on secure infrastructure. Intelligent government services require interoperable data, while businesses need people capable of redesigning workflows around automation.
That interdependence explains why the 30th edition stretches from AI and sovereign infrastructure to payments, cybersecurity, media, gaming, entrepreneurship and skills.
Cairo ICT 2026 is therefore using its anniversary not simply to celebrate 30 years of technology exhibitions, but to highlight the transition now facing the industry: the conversation is moving from what artificial intelligence can do to where it can actually be deployed, who can build the infrastructure behind it and what measurable impact it can create.
Technology Companies Back the 30th Edition
Dell Technologies is the main sponsor of Cairo ICT 2026, while eFinance Investment Group is a strategic sponsor and Huawei serves as technology partner. MIDAR for Investment and Urban Development is also a main sponsor.
Egypt Trust and Commercial International Bank Egypt are platinum sponsors, Fortinet is security sponsor, while ICT Misr and IoT Misr support the event’s infrastructure.
Other partners include Noventiq, Orange Egypt, Canon, EgyptAir, Forbes Middle East, Meinhardt, Mastercard, Axis, Network International and Monefy Arabic, alongside collaborations with CyShield, Mercatura Forum, Inter Section and FWZ.
Cairo ICT 2026 runs from November 7 to 10 at the Egypt International Exhibition Center in New Cairo.